INVESTIGATION OF ELECTRICAL, OPTICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES (Ag NPs) SYNTHESIZED BY MICROWAVE-ASSISTED (MW) SYNTHESIS METHOD
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Date
2025-01-29
Authors
Habbash, Shahd
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Publisher
An-Najah National University
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) are very small-sized particles with a diameter ranging between 1 to 100 nm. Metallic nanoparticles take a huge place in recent researches because of its importance in different fields; electrical, optical, industrial and more. Among the known metals, silver (Ag) is the most especial one due to its physical and chemical properties. Several methods were used to prepare silver nanoparticles. The microwave-assisted synthesis method (MW) is the easiest way in which the Ag NPs can be synthesized in a very short time (some seconds), with high yield and controlled synthesis conditions.
In this study, the Ag NPs were successfully prepared using the MW method. In the preparation process we used the precursor Silver Nitrate (AgNO3), with Ethylene Glycol as a reducing agent and polyvinylpyrrolid (PVP) as a stabilizing agent. The synthesis conditions were controlled during the preparation method. These conditions are the power of the microwave (Medium-Low, ML, Medium, M, Medium-High, MH, and High, H), the microwave heating time (30s and 90s) and the ratio between the precursor to stabilizing agent, AgNO3: PVP (1:1/2,1:1,1:2,1:3).
The prepared samples were characterized using the ultra-violet visible absorption spectroscope (UV-vis). It is clear that both times can be used successfully to prepare Ag NPs, this is obtained from the peak of surface-plasmon resonance band (SPR) which exist in the correct region (400-450) nm.
The atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to study the morphological properties of the prepared samples (size and shape). All samples have a spherical shape of the Ag NPs with different sizes. An enhancement of the Ag NPs size occurs by either increasing the MW power, increasing the MW heating time, or decreasing the PVP ratio.
The electrical properties of the same samples were studied using the vector network analyzer (VNA). The 30s samples are not stable, while the 90s samples give stable measurements, and repeating measurement process after a long time (up to 7 months) gives approximately the same results for these 90s samples.